Improvement in the mode of rendering fabrics water-proof



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE JOHN NEWEERY, OF- LONDON. ENGLAND."

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MODE OF-RENDERING FABRICS WATER-PROOF.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent 'No. 1,997, dated, March 3. 1841.

To alt whom it mag concern.-

Belt known thatLGEoRen JOHN N EWBERY, a cit zen of the United States of America, and

' now residing at Oripplega'te Buildings, in the city of London, manufactnrer,'have invented or discovered a new and useful invention of certainImprovements in Rendering Silk, Cotton, Woolen, Linen, and other Fabrics Water- Prootf; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

My illlDIOVGll'iGlltS in rendering silk, cotton, woolen, linen and other fabrics water-proofconsists in an improved mode, manner, or method of rendering such fabrics water-proof, and is effectedby using drying-oils and oil compositions, varnishes, or other suitable composition for this purpose in such a way that one side of the fabric, when finished; presents an appearance unimpaired or but little altered by the process of waterproofing, and therefore keeps its original appearance, or nearly so, and this 1 effect by applying siccative or drying oilsand compositions in such a manner that when finished the appearance of one side only of the texture is altered-that is to say, the oil or paint or water-proof composition coats or covers the one side, while it does not cover or injure the appearance of the other side, or but little so.

In order to make myself and my improved mode or' method of waterproofing fabrics more clearly understood, I will first describe the same and different modifications thereof, and then how I produce damask patterns or designs thereon.

I would here make the following preliminary I remarks. There are several well-known methods of waterproofing fabrics by means of siccative oils or siccative compositions, such as I intend to apply for this purpose in my improved. mode, manner, or method. For instance, one well-known method of applying. drying-oils and oil-paints and oiltvarnishes to textures is to spread or cover the surface of the fabric with a thick or stifi' coating of material, as a mixture of drying-oils, metallic oxides, and lamp-black or ochcr, or other pig'- mentor suitable body, and which is employed chiefly in the process of making floor-cloth, table-baize, cart-covers, &c. The other is simply by'saturatiug the fabric with the said oil or oil-paint, ouch-japan, and allowing/it to time. Various plans have been tried to ac complish this object, such as wetting with water the fabric or texture intended to be waterproofed before-spreading the stiff oil-color or waterproofing composition on the same -as, for instance, in the making of oil-baize table? covers, where the ordinary process is togive the textures a coating on the one side oi size or other gelatinous body, with a portion of treacle or other. soluble matter intermixed withit, and afterward spreading over the other sidethe oil color or varnish. Another wellknown process is the saturating the texture with size color or strong starch or size or such like matters, and then oiling or covering with varnishes the other side, by'which means the capillary absorption which the fabric would otherwise have is overcome by'the'saturation, while the waterproofing coating remains and dries on the other side. Another method is to mix'gelatine or other extraneous matters with the oil or varnishes, so as to remove its staining and percolating properties at the time of applying the same to the textures; but these means are imperfect, for if stiff color is used and spread on one side the more fluid portions of the mixture are withdrawn and dry in stains on the other side of the textures, after themannor in which elaine will leave the stearine on pressing fat suet between bibulous; paper;

and when the texture to be waterpreofed is saturated with water, then the oil-paintorother composition cannot takea suflicieutlyfirm hold of the side of the texture it is applied to, and

is still apt to-go through the fabric andshow ,on the other side, caused by the pressure nec essary to spread so thick a material as must be used, and the texture must be kept saturated with aqueous matter until the oily substance is dry, and when dried it is of but lit.

tle use as a water-proof, and is easily rubbed off, not having sufficient hold of the fabric of the texture.

The improved mode, manner, 'or method of waterproofing fabrics I employ, and which formsthe subject of my improvements or. in=

vention,.is to saturate thetexturecompletely' with the composition I intend shall form the coating, covering, or waterproofing on one ing the said one side the other or reverse side I is wholly or partially protected from becoming dry or hardened, and which is efi'ectcd by preventing the action of the atmosphere or at tificial heat thereon. At this stage of the pro-- ccssthat is, when the one side is dry and the otheryet; moist'from having been covered by othersiibstances,and thereby protected from the'aetion of the air or heat-the moist or unharil'enedsidc of the texture may be washed andicl'cansctl or cleared on this said nndlied sideby means of spirits of turpentine or other suitableiiquid; and then hung up to dry, and by evaporation lose the odor of both the waterpr'oofing material for the one sideaud the cleansiugmediumfor the other side. This process may be repeated it the membranous, stralum orpellicl'e left on the one side is not quite water-proofby the first operation; or the said watcrprobfcoatingmay be' thickened or strengthened atterward, if thought desirable, by repeated 'coats of paint, oil, varnish, or other eompositionslaid on by abrushor other i m raiis.'"*- I wislii't therefore to be understood that I what I consider my claim to these improvements "in render'i'ngfabri'cs waters-proof is the saturating woven" fabrics and fibrous textures with siccative' oils, oil-paints, oil-japans, oilvarnishes,"and other suitable compositions and -the"drying the same thereon as a coating or coveringor pellicle on one side of the textures only by various methods to be hereinafter explained',at"ihe"sametime keeping the other sidefirraiiy undried state, andthen washing or" clearing this other nnhardened ormoistside of thet'abricor tex'ture from the said si'cca-' tive' matters by means ofs'plrits of turpentine or othcrjsuitable liquids. Havlngstated' the n'atureand object of my invention, I will proceed to explain my improyed methods of preventing the one side of satui atedfabric from drying and of prevent lug-the dryingof'the other side,' 0r that to be,

left coated or covered by a pellicle, and which I'consitle'r tobe newand peculiar.

Iwouldhere'remark that drying. oils andvarnishes orsicc'ativ'e compounds of which drying-oilsform an important part it is known will shinover, as it is commonly termed, or dryonthe surface, while the-under part remains'inthe'liqnid state, if in any quantity, as in rider or vessel, for months or even'years. This pellicle I have found by experiment is very thin for several days. I determined to applyth'is'efi'ect of nature to the waterproofing of teirturc'or fabrics in the following way:

First,I strai'ned'a portionof silk on a frame and allowed it to float on. a bath of drying-oil so asrto be perfectly even with the surface,

scarcely touching it, without being immersed.

The upper surface was perfectly dry or hardened and coated with a thin pellicle'or film of the oil. I,

In a few hours I took up the frame.

then washed the free oil away from the under side with spirits of turpentine, and found the said coating or pellicle on the upper side firmly fixed on thatyside which had been exposed to the air, and the other side of the fabric. not impaired, or but little so, in its appearance or color. Therefore one method by which my improved mode, method,or process may be carried into cfl'eetisto use oil-baths--about a quarter-orbalfan inch deep will be found suflicientof proper dimensions'to allow the frame containing the strained silk or fabricto float thereon, the upper surface of the fabric being left exposed to the action of the atmosphere or artificial heat.

Another method or modification of process of carrying my improvementsinto efi'ect is as follows-via, by merely laying the v saturated fabric on a slab of slate or stone or metal or -othersurface or material non-absorbent to oils or such matters; and this loonsidera more sini pie and convenient; method of effecting the olijects of my improvements,

{The non-absorbent surfaces I prefer to use are tables of suflicient length and breadth for the fabric intended to 'bc waterproofed, and maybe made of wood and rendered non-ab"- sorbent by coating them with thin glue or varnish or other suitable material, and when this coating is dry and hard and seasoned I take the waterproofing com positionthat is, oilor oil-paint or other suitable matters-and with a brush cover the table evenly with a coating of the waterproofing composition about. as thick as a painter generally covers a wall or partition with oil-paint. I then take thefabric (it' being previously coiled on a. roller or,

round rod) and place it at one end of the ta ble, andthen unroll the fabric so that it shall cover evenly that-able or surface coated by the sic'cative composition, and if the fabric is thin or of fine texture, as silk goods, it will baby the paint already laid on the tableor surface completely saturated.

Should the fabric not lie cvenly or closc'to' the table or surface in all parts by merely'r'oll ing it thereon, I press it down or cause it to lie in close contact by means of the hands of theworkman, and smooth out the wrinkles and air bubbles or cells by drawing the palm of the hand over the fabric from the middle toward the sides, or by rollers or scrapers, and

by this means I also regulate the quantltyof oil or siccative composition, so as to get an even quantity over the whole surface.

7 Should there be any pucker in the fabric, it

may be overcome by straining the goods and retaining the same selvages into the table.

The time required for drying, obtaining the pellicle surface or thin coating or covering, depends on the nature of the oil by pins stuck through the g or rather for compositions or waterproofing material employed. In summer temperature the ordinary boiled linseed-oil takes about ten hours; but this may be ascertained by touching the surface with the finger from time to time, the drying process being continued until the outer surface of the material used loses its tackiness or adhesiveness, or, in other words, .until the pellicle is properly obtained.

It isnot positively necessary that the tables or surfaces should be placed horizontally, although I prefer to use them so; neither that the silk or fabric should be spread or laid on the upper side of the table or non-absorbing surface. For instance, in order to economize room, I sometimes make the'tablc with both'its under and upper surfaces prepared withthe non-absorbent coating, and then spread the texture first overone side of the board,- then around its end, which is properly shaped and prepared with the non-absorbent coating, and

continue spreadingit over the opposite side, by which means 1 am enabled to cffectthe waterproofing of double the length of fabric without occupying more. space. I would here remark that-by mixing whiten, ing or pipe-clay or flour or other extraneous matters with the oils or varnishes or compositions they may be thickened to such a degree as co-prevent their runningto the bottom edge of the table, or, in'other'words, following'the inclination of their gravity. .Th'etable orsu-r face may then be placed at anyangle, orperpendicularly, if desired, and thetexture dried in-this situation,- which method will further economize space in the manufactory.

Another variation of the mode or method of carrying my invention or improvementsim to effect is to strain two pieces of fabric-on a stretching-frame such as is com monlyused by calico-printers and cloth-dressers,- so that two of their surfaces are placed evenlyand closely in contact together, and I then saturate or paint them with oil orotherwaterprooting material while in that position. I place the frame horizontally if a thin drying-oil composition or material is used, and if the material is of snmcient consistence toprevent its running to the edges or endsittmay be placed perpendicularly. By this method of operation the upper and under or the outer sides will become dry orhardened, while the. two inner surfaces, or those in contact will beleft moist, or, in other words, the waterproofing material between-those surfaces will not be allowedto dry or form a pellicle by the action of the-ah mosphere or artificial heat applied; and when the two outer surfaces are dry, or the pollicle surface obtained thereo-n,-thetwo pieces of fabric may be taken apart and the siccative composition which has not become hardened or dried removed by means of spirits-of turpentiue or other liquids. I

The object of my invention being to prevent the oil or other siccat-ive composition drying on both sides of the fabric, I shall describe anher way of effecting it-viz.,bystrainingcut the silk or fabric singly on or in aframe, then perfectly saturating it with any dryingoil or paint or other such waterproofingcomposition, and when it is beginning to set or harden on both sides-that is, when the pell'icle is'jnst formed and is yet extremely tender-I scrape the oil or composition from one side-without disturbing, the pellicle so formed on the other, and give the scraped side a new coating of oil:

or paint of some composition which hardens or dries less rapidly than the otherfor example, unboiled linseed-oil. By this method the-one side willget dry or hard, while the other remains moist and-capable of being washed clean by means of spirits o'f'turpentine or other suitable liquids, as before stated.

Another modification of waterproofing by my improved process-is to strain the fabric or texture-on or'in a frame in the way last described andgive ita coating or covering on both sidesand thoroughly saturate it with inspissatedoi-l or composition, and when such coating is just beginningto set, but while still capableof being. washediofl', a. coat of plain linseed-oil, thickened wjtlr-flour or other suitable body, is to he laid carefully on one surface without disturbing. the first coating. of paint orrthickened oil; and this latter coating is to be of suflicient thickness to protect it-that is, the-composition or inspissated oil firstapplied-from the action of the air; andwhcn the other or reverse side of the fabric 'isdry, or the pelliclc surface sufficiently formed, then these two coatings of materials on the one or protected side. may be removed by cleansing the surface with it spirits of turpentine,- as before stated.

Another method of carrying my invention into eflect'is-by giving the texture or fabric a complete set urationot'oil-paint so compounded as -to take a longtime tod-ry,orwhich will not dry readily without the addition of metallic oxides-as, for example, linseed-oil. This oil I use of a tolerable thick consistency by the addition of pigments and brush it well into the fabric. I then take the metallic oxide in its dry state, after beingground to an impalpable orvery finepowder, and sift or distribate a small quantity evenly and equally over one side of the fabric only. Bythesc means one side-will be caused to dry before the other, and-thus I am enabled to preserve the other side und-ried, so as to be washed, as before. Another method which may be employed is to thicken or inspissate the d-ryiug-oilwith lampblack or, other suitable substance, so as to bring. it to abnttery consistence, and thenapplyit to the fabrics on each side, butwith coat ings of unequal thickness, which may bedonc by a brush orother means in such manner-that no more than is intended to form the. perma nent coating shall be laid on one side, while the other or temporary coating is laid on sufficiently thick that, although itskinsoverorforms a pellicle on its outer surface, yet itsunder or within stratum is not dry, and therefore this temporary coating may be readily scraped off,

which will allow this side of thc'fabrict'o becleaned by means of spirits of turpentine or other means, as before stated.

Another method of obtaining this effect of preventing the one coating from drying while.

loose from the texture while the other is dryrate itself with the tibersof the fabric, so that it'may firmly adhere thereto.

Having thus described my invegtion and several different modes, modifications, or meth ods of carrying myjmprovements into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is the application of any drying-oils, siccative compositions, or varnishes which have a. dryin g or hardening property for the purpose of saturating the texture, in the first place, and then by artificial-means to cover one side of the texture, so that this side shall remain nudried while the other dries, hardens, or, in other words, has a .pelliclc formed on that surface which is exposed to the direct action of the air or artificial heat, and whichpellicle is firmly incorporated with or attached to that surface, the other side being protected from the action of the air or heat, which enables the moist part or coating to be cleared away, so as to leave the texture in its original appearance or its surface unimpaired, or nearly so.

Having thus fully stated the nature of my improved manner or method of waterproofingfabrics and various modifications or processes for'eflectin g the same, I will proceed toexplain and describe n y improved method of produc' ing damask patterns or designs on silks and other textures or fabrics by means of the abovedescribed method of drying or coating and waterproofing one surface-while the otheris wholly or partially protected from so doing-that is to say, first, instead of having a plain table or surface of slate or of wood placed in contact.

with that side of the fabric part of which is only partially to be protected from the drying action of the air or heat, I lay or spread the saturated silk or fabric upon a surface or table or block which has a pattern formed upon it, such pattern being sufiiciently countersunk or raised-say about the depth of one-eighth of an inch or more -after the manner of ordinary calico orpaper 'stainers pattern-block; The

. compositions.

raised partsot' thispattern-block or table, be-,

in gplace'd in-clo'se contact with one side of the saturated silk or fabric-that is, the one intended to have the pattern formed upon it and the fabricstretched ovcr it--thc indented or sunken parts, recesses, 'or interstices of the pattern not being filled with the composition will allow the waterproofing material to harden or become pellicledou both sides in some parts, while ther'aised parts will prevent-such effectvtaking place where in contact with the fabric.

After the texture has been spread or stretched over the pattern-block, ifrequired, I'again cover the outer surface with paints or oils or other 4 The saturated fabric should be carefully laid or rolled closely and evenly upon the raised parts of the table or pattern-block, care being taken that every part of the upper surface of the raised 'parts shall be in close contact with the silk orother texture. The drying or hardening process may 'then go on until the pellicle is formed, as before described,

and when the required parts of the surfaces are dried or hardened Iremove the, loose or undried parts from the under side,.0r such parts as have been incontact with the upper surface of the pattern, by means of spirits of turpentine or other efi'ects, as before described.

It will be seen that according to the color of the paint or waterproofing material usedand the original color of the silk or fabric so will a variety-of contrasts and patterns, either colored or plain", be produced, it being easy by means of the colors of the fabric and the colors of the waterproofing material used, either on the one or the other side of the fabric, to producea great variety of ornamental patterns or devices,

Another modification of producing the same effect is by using perforated pattern plates and boards, hardened oil-cloth, or other suitable laminated material, and placing the same against one side only of the fabric, or between two surfaces of silk or other texture stretched on a frame, as before named.

Having now described my improvements in waterproofing fabrics, I wish it to be understood that I do not con fine myself to any par.- ticular substance or material for backing, cov-- ering, or preventing the drying of one side of a saturated texture, either wholly or partially.

Neither do I intend to confine myself to any particular siccative composition to be used for saturating and waterproofing the texture or fabric, although. I have'hitherto found dryingoils and oil compositions to answer best for this improved manner or method of waterproofing! I therefore claim as new and useful-- 3. The improved modes, methods, processes,- or modifications above described of applying substances to such saturated textures, so astopreveut one surface thereof from d-ry-ing,-hardcning, or forming a pellicle-thereon, while the other-is allowed-soto do by the action. of the atmosphere" or artificial heat to which it is ex posedpevaporatiag a portion of the-aqueous or'volatile parts of the oils-or compositions and then fterward clearing away the moist NEWBERY, have hereuntb set my hand andparts by the agency ofspirits of turpentine-0r seal this 23d day of November, in the yearof other suitable liquid. our Lord 1840. I I

2. The mode, manner; or process of produc- GEORGE JOHN NEWBERY. [1; s ing damask patterns or designs on the surface Witnesses:

of such fabrics in the way or manner above J. W. MOFFATT, stated. F. WALKDEN,

In witness whereof I, the said GEORGE JOHN v Clerks to Newton 6% Berry. 

